Barbaro Updates: 590
updates are now here.
Update 3499: Curlin's dad, Smart Strike, is among the Canadian Hall of Fame inductees for 2008: Canadian Hall of Fame inductees announced.
Update 3498: My latest entry on The Rail:
Update 3497: A very interesting piece from The Rail today: They Eat Horses There, Don't They? excerpt:
Since last year, thoroughbred breeders and owners have been allowed to declare on a horse's papers that the animal is not intended for human consumption, so therefore cannot be slaughtered. This coincides with the formation of Ligue pour la Protection du Cheval, which is funded by France Galop, the governing body of racing in France, and by check-offs from owners and trainers who agree to contribute a percentage of purses. The Ligue will take possession of racehorses that can no longer compete, provide veterinary care for injuries and then place the horse in a new job or in retirement, depending on the age and ability of the horse. The Ligue retains possession of the animal for life, to avoid unscrupulous new owners selling the horse on for slaughter.
Update 3496: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
Welcome to the second installment in our occasional series called 'Horses Americans Should Know.' Today's featured horse is Soviet Song.
Soviet Song was bred and raced by Elite Racing Club; she remains a part of their operation today as a broodmare. The Club's structure is one that would be most welcome in American racing; members pay a low annual fee (less than £200) and receive weekly newsletters and the right to visit the stables (even to see the broodmares and foals, which is a rare opportunity indeed by American practices), regular events and, of course, some share of any prize money (but with over 15,000 members, that's obviously not why most people are joining).
Soviet Song's dam, Kalinka, was one of the first broodmares acquired by the Club; she won a few races for them and has gone on to become a very successful broodmare -- Soviet Song, born in 2000, was her second foal.
Soviet Song started her racing career off with great style; she was unbeaten as a 2-year-old and quickly stepped up in class; her final race for the year, the Fillies' Mile at Ascot, was her first Group 1 win.
Things might have seemed less successful by American standards in her 3-year-old year; while she did not win, she was fiercely competitive in races including the 1000 Guineas -- finishing just behind the likes of Six Perfections and Intercontinental -- all while never missing a share of the prize money.
As a 4 year-old, Soviet Song was in top form -- four wins, including the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and one over the boys in the Sussex Stakes.
Her 5-year-old season was hampered by illness; although she won the Falmouth for a second time and came second in the Sussex, she picked up 'a chill' that forced her to sit out much of the rest of that year.
She returned at six for a final crack at a Royal Ascot win -- her fourth such attempt -- and was victorious in the Windsor Forest (a raced created in 2004 to 'keep more leading fillies in training beyond the age of three').
Soviet Song's awards include the 2004 Cartier Award for Top Older Horse and she was the highest-rated older filly in the world in 2004 and 2005. She was retired to Kirtlington Stud in Oxfordshire in late 2006, but experienced some initial breeding problems, failing to get in foal to both Montjeu and Galileo.
Happily, those issues are now resolved and she is currently in foal to Oasis Dream, with her first foal expected in 2009.
Like Big Brown, Soviet Song has had foot problems that have necessitated glue-on shoes -- but she still managed 24 starts and 9 wins. IEAH could learn a lot from Elite Racing Club.
And speaking of Big Brown...
Update 3495: WKYC.com with an expose on Sugar Creek auction.
Update 3494: A pleasant morning this morning at Woodbine. The wind has dropped and while still a little chilly early, it soon warmed up. I only had four sets to gallop. I also rode our pony, Charlie, while we worked four sets. It was fun being out there on the pony pretending to help out a little, while riding a horse that was very nice and relaxed. He's pretty cool for an ex racehorse, who I guess was not fast enough. Anyway, altogether a pleasant morning that was finished off with breakfast provided by our jockey's agent thanks to Kingsgate Bay!
Update 3493: A very pleasant evening last night spent with a few people from the racetrack. Jack (Jocko) Lauzon was with us, and he told us he had just received word he had won the Avelino Gomez Award. The award will be presented on Woodbine Oaks day. "Jocko" is a retired jockey, retiring at the end of the last meet, and is now a jocks' agent. Congratulations!
Please keep calling and writing.
Good morning to everyone!
May we all have a day that brings warmth to our hearts and smiles to our, and others, faces.
Posted by: Laurie H. in MN at May 20, 2008 10:54 AM